Abstract: This is a process and apparatus for using a passive desuperheater for passively desuperheating a superheated gas stream before the stream is transmitted to a heat exchanger. A spent gas stream of a liquid condensate is accumulated in the passive desuperheater. An incoming superheated gas stream comes into the passive desuperheater below the liquid level of the liquid condensate in the passive desuperheater for maximum direct contact heat transfer between the incoming steam and the liquid condensate. An outgoing stream of saturated gas exits the desuperheater above the level of the condensate.